Take a walk down St. Augustine’s ‘English Hall’ every Wednesday, and listen carefully for a special surprise! With arguments flying, questions soaring, and voices rising, you will soon find yourself in a new world–the world of the debaters. Exploding with action packed fun, these students never turn down the opportunity to express their points of view in creative ways. From its dynamic cross examination moments  to expressive presenters, this club is certainly bound to blow your mind and spark a new love for debating.

On November 27 2017, the team headed over to Brebeuf College to participate in the school’s very first inter-school debate competition! Undoubtedly an experience of a lifetime, they came fifth out of twelve schools, and are only aiming even higher. Luckily, with the help of Titan Times, all can take part in the action! We had the opportunity to interview Venice, a junior debater on the St. Augustine Team, on her thoughts on the competition and future debating plans.

Venice, you are member of the Debate Club’s junior team. What first sparked a love for debating within you? What inspired you to join the team?

V. I first joined the debate team in attempts to expand my horizons and gain access to new opportunities that I would never have known otherwise. I decided that participating in this team would allow me to continually improve my skills and take part in thoughtful conversations.

This year, St. Augustine CHS participated in its first inter-school debate competition, which was obviously a large leap from in-club practice. How did this unique experience make you feel coming out of the tournament?

V. To be honest, I felt relieved after the completion of each of the rounds and free of the tension and stress that came with preparing for this big moment. Now, looking back, I would say that I am excited to participate in future tournaments and apply all of the new lessons learned to new competitions.

Given the fact that this was your first time participating in such a competition, did you feel that you were well prepared to face seasoned debaters? What did you do to build your confidence in the face of such odds?

V. First of all, when preparing for the debate, I felt nervous, uncertain, and acutely aware of the fact that I am not the best at ‘thinking on the spot.’ As the debate progressed and I became more accustomed to the rules and formalities of the events, I experienced a rush of confidence, feeling that I would be able to quickly adapt to the unfamiliar aspects introduced in the first debate, and perform my best during the second.

What did you learn from this experience? Would you say that it was a worthwhile activity to engage in?

V. I gained a greater sense of confidence and stronger improvisation abilities. When faced with all of the foreign arguments and rules introduced to me during the competition, I also came to understand the importance of adaptability and communication skills. Overall, yes, I would say that this experience was, indeed, a worthwhile activity.

What advice would you offer to other ‘first-time’ debaters who feel, as you did, nervous and uncertain about participating in their first debate?

V. In order to do well, it will be important to not only have enough information to back up your own points, but also to be able to target the opposition’s arguments. Make sure to develop your ability to think on the spot, and to look at an issue from all angles. In addition, get informed about the formalities and format of the competition, as there may be some unspoken rules. Overall, it is important to have a lot of practice in all areas (your argument, cross-examination, and rebuttals) and to be able to remain calm when it is competition time.

By: Zinnia C.
12/11/2017